And albert



UNITED STATES f PATENT EEICE.

EPHRAIM MANES, OF SHERMAN HEIGHTS, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR OF TWO- THIRDS TO THOMAS J. COCHRAN, OF INVERNESS, FLORIDA, AND ALBERT W. GAINES, OF OHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE.

BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,678, dated August 20, 14895.

I Application filed January 9, 1895. `Serial No. 534,368. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, EPHRAIM MANES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sherman Heights, in the county of Hamilton and State ot Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Buckle, of which the following is a speciflcation. l This invention'relates to buckles; and it has for its object to provide a new and useio ful improvement in buckles especially adapted for use on harness, wherein simple and efficient means shall be provided forl fastening one end of a strap to the buckle without the use of rivets or sewing, which are the common means for fastening'one end of a strap permanently to a buckle. To thisend the main and primary object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful fastening device for a buckle, to zo provide means for securely and detachably fastening one endor other part of a strap within the buckle. I

.With these and other objects in view, which will readily appear as the nature of the in- 2 5A vention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan View of 3o a harness-buckle provided with the hereindescribed improvement. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional View on the line x of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line y g/ of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a detailV in perspective of the rotatable eccentric fastening-bar and theslotter lever-piece thereof, showing in dotted lines the connection of the buckle-tongue with the fastening-bar.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

4o 1 designates a buckle-frame `that is of an ordinary rectangular form and essentially comprises the opposite parallel side bars 2 and the opposite flat end bars 3, connecting the opposite ends of the side bars. The said buckle-frame 1 is further provided at an intermediate point with a transverse fiat cross bar or plate 4, connecting the opposite side bars 2 and located in a parallel plane to the flat end bars 3. The side bars 2 of the buckle- 5o frame are provided on the side of the frame opposite the cross bar or plate 4 with integral offstanding perforated bearing ears or lugs 5, that loosely receive therein the spindle extremities 6 of arotatable eccentric fasteningbar 7, that is arranged to work within the buckle-frame directly opposite the transverse [iat cross bar or plate 4.

The rotatable eccentric fastening-bar 7 is provided at one side with integral yoffstanding fastening teeth or spurs 8, that are adapted to pierce intoh the strap X, that is adapted to be fastened by the fastening-bar between the same and the cross bar or plate 4, and said fastening-bar is further provided with an integral oftstanding rectangular lever-piece 9, that is provided with a longitudinallydisposed slot lO, and is projected from the sideof the fastening-bar opposite the teeth or spurs 8 and at substantially right angles thereto, so that by moving the lever-piece in- 7o Ward within the buckle-frame the said teeth or spurs will be forced into the strap to fasten the same securely in position, and by moving said lever-piece outward from within the frame the spurs or teeth of the fastening-bar 7 5 will be carried out of engagement with the strap, so as to release the same from the buckle.

.The fastening-bar 7 is provided at the inner end of its longitudinally-slotted leverpiece 9 with an integral pintle portion l1, that is disposed eccentrically to the fastening-bar and has pivotallysecured thereto one end of the ordinary buckle-tongue l2, the other end of which Works over one of the end 8 5 bars of the buckle-frame in the usual way to provide for the connection of the free end of the strap with the buckle, and when said buckle-tongue is held engaged with the free end of the strap the tongue will be held in position 'directly over and partly in the slot. of said lever-piece, and provides for locking said lever-piece to prevent the turning of the fastening-bar and the consequent releasement of the strap fastened thereon. 95

The many advantages of the herein-described fastening device for buckles will be readily apparent to those skilled iny the art, and it will be understood that changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of roo construction may be resorted to Without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described` the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letf ters Patent, is-

l. In a fastening device of thc class described, the combination of a buckle frame provided at an intermediate point With a cross bar and opposite bearing ears or lugs, a rotatable eccentric fastening bar mounted in said bearing ears orlugs, opposite said cross bar, and provided with an offstanding lever piece, and the buckle tongue pivotallyconnected at one end to said eccentric bar, substantially as set forth.

2. In a fastening device of the class described, the combination of a buckle frame provided at an intermediate point with a cross bar and opposite bearing ears or lugs, a rotatable eccentric fastening bar tted at its ends in said bearing ears or lugs l and provided with tastening teeth or spurs projected from one side thereof, a rectangular lever piece projected from one side thereof opposite the teeth or spurs and at an angle to the latter, and an integral eccentrically disposed pintle portion located at the inner end of said lever piece, and the buckle-tongue pivotally connected at one end to the pintle portion of said fastening bar, substantially as set forth.

In testimonjyT that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto ailixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

EPHRAIM MANES.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. EARLY, FRANK A. NELSON. 

